MIRI – Plans are afloat to set up an express bus service that will cover the entire east Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah.
The routes will start from the southern tip of Sarawak in Kota Samarahan and Santubong districts, extending through state capital Kuching, upwards into the rest of southern Sarawak, into the central region of the state and to Miri district in the north – a 1,000km route.
From Miri, the bus will pass through Brunei and into the northernmost Sarawak districts of Limbang and Lawas, stretching another 300km.
From Lawas, the service will be extended into Sabah and to the rest of the northern Borneo state, covering another 600km at the least.
This East Malaysia express bus service will be the first of its kind that will cover the two Borneo states.
The plan for the pioneering service was unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in a discussion with Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang and Sarawak state government representatives two days ago during a ministerial meeting in Kuching, said TV Sarawak in a news update.
TV Sarawak quoted Rubiah as saying that the starting points for this Trans-Borneo route have already been identified.
“The express bus will start from Kg Semilang and Kg Beradek in Kota Samarahan,” said Rubiah, who is Kota Samarahan MP.
TV Sarawak reported Zahid as saying in his briefing on the Trans-Borneo plan that national bus company Mara Liner, which is a subsidiary of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), will be the main player operating this Sarawak-Sabah express bus service.
“This very important express bus service for the people of Sarawak and Sabah will be historic, as it will link up the population of East Malaysia via a bus service that is affordable and not profit-oriented.
“The service will operate as a social welfare project, not profit-based business,” TV Sarawak quoted Zahid as saying.
Mara Liner is one of the biggest national bus companies in Peninsular Malaysia, operating more than 20 routes covering the southern tip of Johor, to the east coast states, northern states and west coast states as well as the Klang Valley.
If the Trans-Borneo plan materialises, it will be the first time that Mara Liner sets foot on Borneo Island. – The Vibes, July 5, 2023
